Elise Watson
Elise Watson is a Physical Scientist at the California Water Science Center specializing in data management, database development, and geospatial analysis.
Elise is a Data Manager/ GIS Specialist for several state-wide and national projects studying groundwater resources, where she develops tools to aid in data management, analysis, and reporting, and provides geospatial analysis support for ecological and groundwater resources projects. She is currently certified as a Technical Specialist in GIS for Wildfire Incident Response events.
Elise started her career at US Geological Survey as a Biologist for the Western Ecological Research Center, focusing on data management and GIS. She assisted with developing a SQL Server database to store large-scale ecological datasets and served as a geospatial Data Steward. Elise also has experience in monitoring environmental impacts of coastal development and larval fish taxonomy.
Professional Experience
Physical Scientist, USGS California Water Science Center, 2022-present
Biologist, USGS California Water Science Center, 2018-2022
Biologist, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, 2012-2018
Fish and Wildlife Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2007-2012
Education and Certifications
Technical certificate in GIS, Palomar College
Master of Arts degree in Biology, Boston University
Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Eckerd College
Science and Products
Predictions of groundwater PFAS occurrence at drinking water supply depths in the United States Predictions of groundwater PFAS occurrence at drinking water supply depths in the United States
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known colloquially as “forever chemicals”, have been associated with adverse human health effects and have contaminated drinking water supplies across the United States owing to their long-term and widespread use. People in the United States may unknowingly be drinking water that contains PFAS because of a lack of systematic analysis...
Authors
Andrea Tokranov, Katherine Ransom, Laura Bexfield, Bruce Lindsey, Elise Watson, Danielle Dupuy, Paul Stackelberg, Miranda Fram, Stefan Voss, James Kingsbury, Bryant Jurgens, Kelly Smalling, Paul M. Bradley
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States
In 2019, 254 samples were collected from five aquifer systems to evaluate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) occurrence in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States. The samples were analyzed for 24 PFAS, major ions, nutrients, trace elements, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pharmaceuticals, and tritium. Fourteen...
Authors
Peter McMahon, Andrea Tokranov, Laura Bexfield, Bruce Lindsey, Tyler D. Johnson, Melissa Lombard, Elise Watson
Populations using public-supply groundwater in the conterminous U.S. 2010; Identifying the wells, hydrogeologic regions, and hydrogeologic mapping units Populations using public-supply groundwater in the conterminous U.S. 2010; Identifying the wells, hydrogeologic regions, and hydrogeologic mapping units
Most Americans receive their drinking water from publicly supplied sources, a large portion of it from groundwater. Mapping these populations consistently and at a high resolution is important for understanding where the resource is used and needs to be protected. The results show that 269 million people are supplied by public supply, 107 million are supplied by groundwater and 162...
Authors
Tyler D. Johnson, Kenneth Belitz, Leon Kauffman, Elise Watson, John Wilson
Research to inform Caltrans best management practices for reptile and amphibian road crossings Research to inform Caltrans best management practices for reptile and amphibian road crossings
In October of 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a 5-year project to conduct research to inform Best Management Practices (BMPs) for amphibian and reptile crossing and barrier systems in California. To inform future conservation and transportation planning, this project involved identification of species at highest risk of negative road impacts, creation of geodatabase and...
Authors
Cheryl Brehme, Robert N. Fisher, Tom Langton, Anthony Clevenger, Esther Adelsheim, Stephanie Barnes, Tristan Edgarian, Brittany Ewing, Stacie Hathaway, Michael Hobbs, Jennifer Kingston, A. Launer, Tritia Matsuda, Jeremy Sebes, C. Vaughn, Elise Watson
Multi-taxa database data dictionary Multi-taxa database data dictionary
The conservation of biological resources relies on the successful management of ecological and physiological research data. The Western Ecological Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey is working with researchers, land managers, and decision makers from non-government organizations and city, county, state, and federal resource agencies to develop data management methods. Access...
Authors
Elise Watson, Carlton Rochester, Chris Brown, Donn Holmes, Stacie Hathaway, Robert Fisher
Secondary hydrogeologic regions of the conterminous United States Secondary hydrogeologic regions of the conterminous United States
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) previously identified and mapped 62 Principal Aquifers (PAs) in the U.S., with 57 located in the conterminous states. Areas outside of PAs, which account for about 40% of the conterminous U.S., were collectively identified as “other rocks.” This paper, for the first time, subdivides this large area into internally-consistent features, defined here as...
Authors
Kenneth Belitz, Elise Watson, Tyler Johnson, Jennifer Sharpe
California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater (COGG) Program
The USGS California Water Science Center is working in partnership with state and federal agencies to answer the following questions about oil and gas development and groundwater resources:
Potential Explanatory Variables for Groundwater Quality in California Potential Explanatory Variables for Groundwater Quality in California
This data release codifies and attributes values for potential explanatory factors to groundwater well locations and to groundwater basins in California. The groundwater sites are 282,000 wells that have water-quality data and are listed in the California State Water Resources Control Boards' Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program Groundwater Information System (GAMA GIS)...
Groundwater-quality data in the Coachella Valley Domestic Supply Aquifer Study Unit, 2020: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project Groundwater-quality data in the Coachella Valley Domestic Supply Aquifer Study Unit, 2020: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project
The U.S. Geological Survey collected groundwater samples from 38 wells used for domestic and small system drinking water supply in the Coachella Valley of California in 2020. The wells were sampled for the Coachella Valley Basin (CODA) Domestic Aquifer Study Unit of the California State Water Resources Control Board Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program Priority...
Groundwater-quality data in the Modesto-Turlock-Merced Domestic-Supply Aquifer Study Unit, 2020-2021: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project Groundwater-quality data in the Modesto-Turlock-Merced Domestic-Supply Aquifer Study Unit, 2020-2021: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project
The U.S. Geological Survey collected groundwater samples from 71 wells used for domestic and small system drinking water supplies in Stanislaus and Merced counties of California during 2020-2021. The wells were sampled for the Modesto-Turlock-Merced Domestic-Supply Aquifer Study Unit of the State Water Resources Control Board Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program...
Geochemical and Geospatial Data for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Groundwater Used As a Source of Drinking Water in the Eastern United States Geochemical and Geospatial Data for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Groundwater Used As a Source of Drinking Water in the Eastern United States
Concentrations of inorganic constituents, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), tritium, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and pharmaceuticals were measured in groundwater samples collected from 254 wells in 2019 and 2020. Concentrations of inorganic constituents, DOC, VOCs, and pharmaceuticals were measured at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)...
Estimated equivalent population using groundwater for public supply domestic use in the conterminous U.S. 2010, hydrogeologic mapping units, and wells used (ver. 2.0, March 2023) Estimated equivalent population using groundwater for public supply domestic use in the conterminous U.S. 2010, hydrogeologic mapping units, and wells used (ver. 2.0, March 2023)
These datasets map the estimated population using public supply drinking water (both groundwater and surface water) using two methods: the census enhanced method (CEM) evenly distributes the population across populated census blocks, and the urban land-use enhanced method (ULUEM) distributes the population only to certain urban land use designations. (See the six Estimated equivalent...
Groundwater-quality Data in the Redding-Red Bluff Shallow Aquifer Study Unit, 2018-2019: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project Groundwater-quality Data in the Redding-Red Bluff Shallow Aquifer Study Unit, 2018-2019: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project
The U.S. Geological Survey collected groundwater samples from 50 wells used for domestic and small system drinking water supplies in Shasta and Tehama Counties, California in 2018-2019. The wells were sampled for the Redding-Red Bluff Shallow Aquifer Study Unit of the California State Water Resources Control Board Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program Priority...
Science and Products
Predictions of groundwater PFAS occurrence at drinking water supply depths in the United States Predictions of groundwater PFAS occurrence at drinking water supply depths in the United States
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known colloquially as “forever chemicals”, have been associated with adverse human health effects and have contaminated drinking water supplies across the United States owing to their long-term and widespread use. People in the United States may unknowingly be drinking water that contains PFAS because of a lack of systematic analysis...
Authors
Andrea Tokranov, Katherine Ransom, Laura Bexfield, Bruce Lindsey, Elise Watson, Danielle Dupuy, Paul Stackelberg, Miranda Fram, Stefan Voss, James Kingsbury, Bryant Jurgens, Kelly Smalling, Paul M. Bradley
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States
In 2019, 254 samples were collected from five aquifer systems to evaluate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) occurrence in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States. The samples were analyzed for 24 PFAS, major ions, nutrients, trace elements, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pharmaceuticals, and tritium. Fourteen...
Authors
Peter McMahon, Andrea Tokranov, Laura Bexfield, Bruce Lindsey, Tyler D. Johnson, Melissa Lombard, Elise Watson
Populations using public-supply groundwater in the conterminous U.S. 2010; Identifying the wells, hydrogeologic regions, and hydrogeologic mapping units Populations using public-supply groundwater in the conterminous U.S. 2010; Identifying the wells, hydrogeologic regions, and hydrogeologic mapping units
Most Americans receive their drinking water from publicly supplied sources, a large portion of it from groundwater. Mapping these populations consistently and at a high resolution is important for understanding where the resource is used and needs to be protected. The results show that 269 million people are supplied by public supply, 107 million are supplied by groundwater and 162...
Authors
Tyler D. Johnson, Kenneth Belitz, Leon Kauffman, Elise Watson, John Wilson
Research to inform Caltrans best management practices for reptile and amphibian road crossings Research to inform Caltrans best management practices for reptile and amphibian road crossings
In October of 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a 5-year project to conduct research to inform Best Management Practices (BMPs) for amphibian and reptile crossing and barrier systems in California. To inform future conservation and transportation planning, this project involved identification of species at highest risk of negative road impacts, creation of geodatabase and...
Authors
Cheryl Brehme, Robert N. Fisher, Tom Langton, Anthony Clevenger, Esther Adelsheim, Stephanie Barnes, Tristan Edgarian, Brittany Ewing, Stacie Hathaway, Michael Hobbs, Jennifer Kingston, A. Launer, Tritia Matsuda, Jeremy Sebes, C. Vaughn, Elise Watson
Multi-taxa database data dictionary Multi-taxa database data dictionary
The conservation of biological resources relies on the successful management of ecological and physiological research data. The Western Ecological Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey is working with researchers, land managers, and decision makers from non-government organizations and city, county, state, and federal resource agencies to develop data management methods. Access...
Authors
Elise Watson, Carlton Rochester, Chris Brown, Donn Holmes, Stacie Hathaway, Robert Fisher
Secondary hydrogeologic regions of the conterminous United States Secondary hydrogeologic regions of the conterminous United States
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) previously identified and mapped 62 Principal Aquifers (PAs) in the U.S., with 57 located in the conterminous states. Areas outside of PAs, which account for about 40% of the conterminous U.S., were collectively identified as “other rocks.” This paper, for the first time, subdivides this large area into internally-consistent features, defined here as...
Authors
Kenneth Belitz, Elise Watson, Tyler Johnson, Jennifer Sharpe
California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater (COGG) Program
The USGS California Water Science Center is working in partnership with state and federal agencies to answer the following questions about oil and gas development and groundwater resources:
Potential Explanatory Variables for Groundwater Quality in California Potential Explanatory Variables for Groundwater Quality in California
This data release codifies and attributes values for potential explanatory factors to groundwater well locations and to groundwater basins in California. The groundwater sites are 282,000 wells that have water-quality data and are listed in the California State Water Resources Control Boards' Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program Groundwater Information System (GAMA GIS)...
Groundwater-quality data in the Coachella Valley Domestic Supply Aquifer Study Unit, 2020: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project Groundwater-quality data in the Coachella Valley Domestic Supply Aquifer Study Unit, 2020: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project
The U.S. Geological Survey collected groundwater samples from 38 wells used for domestic and small system drinking water supply in the Coachella Valley of California in 2020. The wells were sampled for the Coachella Valley Basin (CODA) Domestic Aquifer Study Unit of the California State Water Resources Control Board Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program Priority...
Groundwater-quality data in the Modesto-Turlock-Merced Domestic-Supply Aquifer Study Unit, 2020-2021: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project Groundwater-quality data in the Modesto-Turlock-Merced Domestic-Supply Aquifer Study Unit, 2020-2021: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project
The U.S. Geological Survey collected groundwater samples from 71 wells used for domestic and small system drinking water supplies in Stanislaus and Merced counties of California during 2020-2021. The wells were sampled for the Modesto-Turlock-Merced Domestic-Supply Aquifer Study Unit of the State Water Resources Control Board Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program...
Geochemical and Geospatial Data for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Groundwater Used As a Source of Drinking Water in the Eastern United States Geochemical and Geospatial Data for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Groundwater Used As a Source of Drinking Water in the Eastern United States
Concentrations of inorganic constituents, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), tritium, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and pharmaceuticals were measured in groundwater samples collected from 254 wells in 2019 and 2020. Concentrations of inorganic constituents, DOC, VOCs, and pharmaceuticals were measured at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)...
Estimated equivalent population using groundwater for public supply domestic use in the conterminous U.S. 2010, hydrogeologic mapping units, and wells used (ver. 2.0, March 2023) Estimated equivalent population using groundwater for public supply domestic use in the conterminous U.S. 2010, hydrogeologic mapping units, and wells used (ver. 2.0, March 2023)
These datasets map the estimated population using public supply drinking water (both groundwater and surface water) using two methods: the census enhanced method (CEM) evenly distributes the population across populated census blocks, and the urban land-use enhanced method (ULUEM) distributes the population only to certain urban land use designations. (See the six Estimated equivalent...
Groundwater-quality Data in the Redding-Red Bluff Shallow Aquifer Study Unit, 2018-2019: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project Groundwater-quality Data in the Redding-Red Bluff Shallow Aquifer Study Unit, 2018-2019: Results from the California GAMA Priority Basin Project
The U.S. Geological Survey collected groundwater samples from 50 wells used for domestic and small system drinking water supplies in Shasta and Tehama Counties, California in 2018-2019. The wells were sampled for the Redding-Red Bluff Shallow Aquifer Study Unit of the California State Water Resources Control Board Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program Priority...